Validation of Cameriere's medical-legal age estimation method using seconds premolars in a Portuguese population

Abstract

The goal of this project is to validate the Cameriere's method applied to the upper and lower second premolars in a Portuguese population, regarding the forensic estimate of age.The applied sample consisted in 100 panoramic radiographs, of 60 males and 40 females, patients of the Faculty of Dental Medicine of the University of Lisbon, whose ages vary between 15 and 35 years old. Thus, a total of 400 teeth were investigated (200 upper second premolars and 200 lower second premolars). Each radiograph was analysed using draw and measurement tools featured in Adobe Photoshop, applying the Cameriere's method, and then the pulp/tooth ratio was computed for the 15, 25, 35 and 45 teeth. All data were statistically analysed with the SPSS program, using a significant level of 5%.It was not observed any kind of relation, linear or not linear, between age and the pulp/tooth ratio. Linear regressions with considerably low values for the coefficient of determination were achieved, which indicates a low reliability for these models.Accordingly, we conclude that the knowledge of the pulp/tooth ratio does not allow the identification of an individual based on the Cameriere's method, in the scope of a forensic age estimate applied to panoramic radiograph. Further investigations with larger samples and broader age groups are required in order to provide suitable evidence to the legal and social aspects of age estimate in Forensic Dentistry.